[Clinico-biochemical studies in swine parakeratosis]

Studied were 63 pigs, aged 2-4 months (28-40 kg) with a typical picture of parakeratosis. The investigations followed up some hematological and biochemical indices and the level of macro- and microelements--Ca, P, Zn, Fe, Cu, and Co. In order to elucidate the etiopathogenesis of parakeratosis parallel radioimmunologic studies were carried out with some indices that characterized the functional status of the thyroid gland. In the clinical course of the disease there appeared first nodules that later on changed into dark-red crusts. In a further stage cornification of the epithelial cells set in. Besides, pigs that were affected with parakeratosis had a brighter periphery of the iris (at leats 1/3 of it was affected). The study of the initial diet of such pigs revealed that the Ca:Zn ratio in it was 495:1, which, after correction came to 122:1. With the diseased pigs the plasma level of Zn dropped to 7.49 gamma/cm3, and that of iron--to 14.8 gamma/cm3. Treatment with ZnSO4 at the rate of 0.5 g per head raised these levels up to 17.6 gamma/cm3 and 19.3 gamma/cm3. Such treatment, however, led to the decrease of Cu and Co. Their levels dropped from 0.11 and 0.63 gamma/cm3 to 0.0042 and 0.40 gamma/cm3, respectively.